Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Home Treatment

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Home Treatment

Many home treatment methods can help reduce your child's symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. The approaches differ for children and adults, but treatment for all ages emphasizes understanding the condition, establishing daily structure, and using support systems.

When your child has ADHD, work together to improve behavior and functioning at home and school. In addition, it is important for you to recognize that helping yourself will also help your child.

Tips for self-care

• Take care of yourself. It is often challenging to raise a child with ADHD. Caring for your own physical and mental health is an important part of helping your child and will help provide the needed energy.
• Educate yourself about ADHD. Learn as much as you can about the condition and your child's specific symptoms. You will be better able to help your child if you understand the condition.
• Learn behavior management skills. Children usually need help learning how to interact appropriately with other people. You can help your child by learning behavior management skills. An important component of behavior management is establishing natural and logical consequences for misbehavior.

Tips for your child

Helping your child build self-esteem. Behaviors caused by ADHD can affect a child's feelings about himself or herself. You can help your child develop healthy self-esteem by encouraging a sense of belonging, confidence in learning, and an awareness of his or her contributions.

Helping your child get the most out of school. The symptoms of ADHD can interfere with a child's ability to succeed in school. Promoting school success will help your child academically, socially, and developmentally.

Helping your child get things done. Children with ADHD have more difficulty than other children in paying attention to instructions, and they frequently get distracted before they can complete a task. Your patience, persistence, and creative thinking can help your child learn skills and accomplish tasks at home and school.

Last updated:	April 17, 2008
Author:	Jeannette Curtis
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Mina Dulcan, MD - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC